 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1984
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
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| Josephine Bret and Allan Beck |
Winton filly Josephine Bret showed why she is regarded as the best of her sex in New Zealand with a decisive win in the $15,000 New Zealand Oaks.
Second in the New Zealand Derby in her last outing, Josephine Bret drew the second line in the Oaks and was kept well back in the field by John Hay until the last 400 metres. She mounted her challenge four and five wide turning from home and quickly put the issue beyond doubt, holding off a late bid by northern filly Lucy Lumber comfortably. Claire de Lune, having only her third start, tried to lead from the 1700 metres but held on for third, in a gap of three lengths, while Look Me Over and Cabernet both came from a long way back at the 400 metres for their placings.
DB Fillies' Final winner Blue Water sprinted had from the outside of the front line for Jack Smolenski to lead in the early stages, but, after trailing Claire de Lune, only battled into ninth place. North Island Oaks winner Precious Sally was back early and made a spirited bid to get near the leaders turning for home, but also dropped away to finish 12th.
For Josephine Bret it was her seventh win of the season and took her earnings to $42,270, second only to Blue Water's total of $55,875. By Knowing Bret from the Young Charles mare Young Charlotte, Josephine Bret is raced by breeder Jack Hamilton and his wife Winnie and is trained by Bob Beck, who has enjoyed his most successful season ever with 16 wins to date.
Credit: New Zealand Trotting Calendar